Volleyball Trio Tabbed to PBC All-Academic Squad

2010 PBC Volleyball All-Academic Team

AUGUSTA, Ga. – A trio of University of South Carolina Aiken volleyball players were named to the 2010 Peach Belt Conference Volleyball All-Academic team it was announced by the league office today.

Chelsey Kight earns the plaudit for the second year while sophomores Ashley Farwell and Samantha Lukralle join her on the 2010 edition of the team.

A junior outside hitter, Kight (Charleston, S.C./West Ashley) currently has 83 kills and 21 blocks on the season in 21 matches. She presently has 387 total kills and 98 total blocks in her three seasons on the court for USC Aiken.

In the classroom, Kight owns a 3.77 grade point average as a Nursing major.

In 2010, Farwell (Wake Forest, N.C./Wake Forest Rolesville ) has stepped up for head coach Glenn Cox and the Pacers as USC Aiken had to replace both graduating setters from a year ago. She has started in all 29 matches this season for USC Aiken recording a team-high 673 assists, a team third-best 222 digs and 34 kills.

As a freshman, Farwell saw limited action on the court, setting up 20 assists and recording two kills.

Farwell currently boasts a 3.808 grade point average as a Business Management major.

Lukralle (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst) currently owns a 3.90 grade point average as a Nursing major.

The team's libero, Lukralle shattered her own record for most digs in a single season heading into this weekend's PBC Tournament having corralled in a conference-best 603 digs. She also set her second record of the year in USC Aiken's 3-0 win over Coker College when she tallied 10 service aces, one better than the previous record set in 1995 by former Pacer great Roxanna Rivera.

As a freshman, Lukralle made her presence known leading the Pacers' back row defense by setting a new school record for most digs in a season with 523 digs in 2009.

In addition to Kight, Farwell and Lurkalle, sophomore outside hitter Shannon Byers (Morristown, Minn./Faribault) received Honorable Mention accolades to the 2010 PBC Volleyball All-Academic team.

The PBC Volleyball All-Academic team is part of a season-long program recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of PBC student-athletes in the classroom as well as on the field.

To be eligible for the All-Academic team, a student-athlete must 1) participate in at least half of his/her team's events and be either a starter or significant contributor; 2) achieved a 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) and 3) completed at least one full academic year at his or her current institution.

The Peach Belt Conference Sports Information Directors oversee and select the teams.

Founded in 1991, the Peach Belt Conference is home to 29 NCAA Division II National Championships. 13 member institutions in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Alabama compete in 13 championship sports. The 2010-11 members of the PBC are Augusta State University, Armstrong Atlantic State University, Clayton State University, Columbus State University, Flagler College, Francis Marion University, Georgia College, Georgia Southwestern, Lander University, University of Montevallo, North Georgia, University of North Carolina at Pembroke and the University of South Carolina Aiken.